Collapsible display bin



July 11, 1967 R. H. TAUB 3,330,406

COLLAPSIBLEJ DISPLAY BIN Filed Feb. 16, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 hll lNVE/VTOR. RONALD H. TAUB f 6 a 3 w United States Patent 3,330,406 COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY BIN Ronald H. Taub, Highland Park, Ill., assignor to Creative Displays, Incorporated, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Nevada Filed Feb. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 527,926 13 Claims. (Cl. 206-4531) This invention relates to improved collapsible bins or display containers of the general type set forth in copending application Serial No. 397,957, filed September 21, 1964. More specifically, this invention relates to dis play receptacles useful for the purpose of displaying various articles of merchandise, such as groceries and packaged goods, in drug stores and in markets to promote specials and to encourage sales.

The collapsible bin of this invention consists of a unitary comprising an opaque base or pedestal, a floor o-r platform supported on the base, an opaque rear wall of cardboard or the like extending upwardly of the base and connected thereto, and a sheet of flexible transparent, self-supporting plastic connected to the base and to the rear wall of the display bin and forming the front and side walls of the article-retaining and displaying upper portion of the bin.

Also included within the scope of this invention are methods for constructing and assembling the improved collapsible display container described.

The prior art dump bins or display bins which find utility in applications to which the present invention is directed have one or more objectionable features which limit and impair their usefulness and which deter their widespread acceptance. In some instances these prior art containers present a generally unattractive appearance. In other instances the items carried in the bins are not readily observable to the prospective purchaser. Still other bin structures are cumbersome or unwieldy and poorly adapted for stacking, storage or for shipment. Others are of relatively costly construction. Those bins economical to produce have lacked the requisite strength demanded by the ultimate application. Many prior art floor stands, bins, and display receptacles are objectionable in that they are constructed of a number of separate parts which must be assembled or put together at the point of use. Instructions for assembling such structures are often confusing and in many instances the intended user would rather discard the bin rather than take the time to learn the proper method of erecting it. It is the aim of the present invention to obviate these and other shortcomings of prior art devices.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a collapsible display container or bin in which the articles carried are readily visible from almost all directions, in which bin the article-containing or confining walls include an advertising surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible display bin which is not only exceptionally attractive in appearance, but which is also simple, strong, and of inexpensive construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unitary collapsible display bin comprising a base, a platform resting on and supported by the base, and article-retaining walls connected to and extending upwardly of the base, and in which the entire structure is readily collapsible to form a flat assembly adapted for space-saving convenient stacking, storage, and shipment.

A related object of the invention is to provide a display bin which may be quickly and readily transformed from a substantially flat, shipping configuration to a selfsupporting display stand without any need for tools, complex manipulative procedures, or auxiliary aids.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a display container in which the article-retaining walls comprise the combination of an opaque rear wall of corrugated cardboard or the like to which is fastened a sheet of flexible, transparent, and self-supporting plastic which fornzls the other walls of the bin portion of the display stan A related and very important object of the invention is to provide a collapsible display bin which includes flexible, transparent, and self-supporting plastic walls, and in which the structure is such that fold lines of the plastic are protected during folding or collapse of the bin whereby fracture of the plastic sheet is prevented.

Additional objects and aims of the invention include the following:

To provide a display bin or container which has a collapsible or foldable supporting base or pedestal permitting the bin to be collapsed for shipment or storage; to provide a display bin having transparent upper walls of sheet plastic, which walls are self-supporting and have the necessary mechanical rigidity and strength to function as a container for articles to be displayed; to provide a display bin or container in which the upwardly extending plastic walls are positioned outwardly of and are supported upon a coextensive base wall in a manner to preclude fracture of the plastic sheet in response to lateral binload forces applied thereto against the inside surfaces thereof; to provide a display bin in which the supporting base and upwardly extending rear wall may be conveniently fabricated of a single piece of structural material; to provide a display bin in which the upper articleretaining portion is fabricated principally of transparent sheet plastic but which includes an opaque wall adapted for message display; to provide a composite collapsible display bin or container having an opaque cardboard base and rear wall, the rear wall being fastened to a single sheet of self-supporting, transparent, flexible plastic which forms the side walls and front wall of the bin; to provide a collapsible bin or display receptacle having front and side walls formed of self-supporting transparent flexible plastic sheet material and in which the plastic sheet material is fastened on the outer surface of a band or fragmentary wall structure comprising an integral part of the base of the receptacle; to provide a collapsible display stand, container, or bin, in which the portion confining the items to be displayed comprises a cardboard or corrugated rear wall joined to a unitary sheet of flexible plastic which forms the front and the side walls, and in which the supporting base structure may take various geometric forms, each form being effective to support a floor or platform which in turn carries the items contained in the display bin; and to provide improved methods of connecting various elements of the structure to each other and for fabricating the display bin of the invention.

The invention will be described in more detail, and other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the ensuing description which is to be taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating, by way of example, preferred embodiments of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, with parts cut away, showing one form of the collapsible display stand of the invention, in position of use;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the stand of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the stand of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the stand of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5' is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan view of the stand of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a view of the stand of FIGURE 3 and showing the stand collapsed and folded over;

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic view of the blanks from which the display stand of FIGURE 1 is constructed;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view, with parts cut away, showing a modified form of the collapsible display stand constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE '10 is a front elevational view of the stand of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view of the stand of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view .taken on the line 1212 of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a top plan view of the stand of FIG- URE 9;

FIGURE 14 is a bottom plan view of the stand of FIG- URE 9;

FIGURE 15 is a view of the stand of FIGURE 11 showing the stand collapsed; and

FIGURE 16 is a diagrammatic view of the'blanks from which the display stand of FIGURE 9 is constructed.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 through 8 of the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURE 1, there is shown for the purpose of illustrative disclosure, one preferred embodiment of the collapsible display bin of the invention. In the preferred form depicted, the bin 20 illustrated comprises an opaque base 22 of corrugated cardboard or the like, a deck, floor, or platform 26 supported on the base, and article-retaining walls consisting of a rear wall 30 of an opaque cardboard or corrugated board construction, a front wall 34 and side walls 36 and 38, the front and side walls being formed of a single sheet of a flexible, self-supporting, transparent plastic material. The base 22, as shown in FIGURES 1, 6, and 8C, is formed, in the preferred embodiment of the collapsible bin, of six panels, each panel being joined to the next adjacent panel at a fold or score line, as illustrated diagrammatically in FIGURE 8C. Thus, the base 22 of the bin of FIGURE 1 includes a front wall 42 integrally joined at vertical fold lines 44a and 44b, defining opposed lateral edges of the front wall 42, to double-paneled side walls 46a and 46b each consisting of a first or forward panel 50a and 50b extending substantially rearwardly and transversely of the front wall 42 and integrally joined at a fold line or score line 52a and 52b to a second or rearward side panel 56a and 56b extending rearwardly and outwardly of the rearward edge 52a and 52b of the first panel 50a and 50b. 7 p

In fabricating the 'bin of the invention, as indicated schematically in FIGURE 8C, the rear wall 60 of the base, joined to the upper portion 30, and the front wall 42 and side walls 46a and 46b of the base is conveniently stamped or otherwise formed from a single integral blank. The entire back or therear wall 31) and 61 of the bin may, if preferred, be a separate sheet 62 of corrugated board or the like. As seen in FIGURE 1, and as clearly evident in FIGURES 4 and 6, peripheral lateral portions of the rear wall comprising relatively narrow flaps or flanges 64a and 64b are disposed to extend rearwardly and outwardly of the rear wall. It is to these angled flanges 64a and 64b that corresponding rear edge portions 66a and 66b of side panels 56a and 56b are joined by stitching, gluing, stapling, or in any other preferred manner. In the particular embodiment of the structure depicted in FIGURE 1, attachment of the side walls to the rear wall is achieved through the use of staples 70.

As clearly shown in FIGURE 1 and in the schematic representation of FIGURE 8C, the front wall 42 of the base extends above the upper edges of the panels 50 and 56 which comprise the major parts of the side walls 46 and 46a of the structure illustrated. Integrally a part of the front wall 34 of the base is a surmounting band 74. Fold lines 76a and 76b define lateral extremes of the band 74, and extending rearwardly and outwardly of the front band 74 and joined thereto at fold lines 76a and 76b are integral side bands 80a and 80b which are in turn connected at their rearward extremes or free ends, which are extensions of the side panel edges 66a and 66b, to corresponding vertically extending flanges 64a and 64b. Slots or narrow cut-outs 84a and 84b, as shown in the blank illustrated in FIGURE 80, provide the physical separation between the side bands 80a and 80b and the side walls 46a and 46b .therebelow, these walls extending inwardly of the bands thereabove to support the platform 26.

The upper band portion 74 joined to the front wall 34 of the base 22 is somewhat wider than the lower portion of the wall and is symmetrically placed with respect thereto. Thus, the fold lines 76a and 76b defining the lateral extremes of the upper band 74 are displaced laterally outwardly of corresponding fold lines 44a and 44b of the lower wall portion 42 of the front wall so that in its assembled state, as shown in FIGURES l and 2, the front wall of the base 22 is actually generally T-shaped in elevation. Arcuate slots 86a and 86b, as seen most clearly in FIGURE 8C and which extend downwardly and inwardly from corresponding inner extremes of slots 84a and 84b to the fold lines 44a and 44b at either side of the front wall 42 are effective to strengthen the structure and to reduce any tendency for tearing at the upper junctures between the side panels 50a and Sttb and the front wall 42 of the base. In addition, as seen in FIG- URES l and 2, the arcuate slots 86a and 86b for-m wings or tabs 88a and 88b which enhance the overall appearance of the structure by providing an optically pleasing transition from the cross-member 74 to the upstanding front wall 42. The tabs, circle quadrants, or sectors 88a and 88b also mask the true height of the principal portion of the T-shaped front wall, and provide an improved overall appearance.

Fastened at its lower peripheral edge 96 to the coextensive upper edge portion 100 of the generally U-shaped band 102 integrally a part of the base 22 of the display bin is a sheet of transparent, self-supporting, flexible plastic 106 which may be any suitable material such as a vinyl polymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, a polyester such as Mylar, cellulose acetate, or polystyrene. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, polystyrene sheet plastic is used. Any preferred fastening means including stitching, adhesives, staples or the like may be used in attaching the plastic sheet 106 to the base 22 of the display bin and to the flaps 64a and 64b at either side of the rear wall 30. Staples '70 have been found to be very satisfactory for this purpose.

It is a very important feature of the invention that the 7 plastic sheet 106 is attached outwardly of the U-shaped band 102 and this structural arrangement has been found to be uniquely effective to prevent fracture of the plastic sheet, which might otherwise occur as the result of the laterally outward pressure produced by articles stored in the display bin. Unexpectedly, this particular arrangement is superior to the alternative of positioning the plastic sheet on the inside of the rim or band 102. In the latter position there is a tendency for the upper terminal edge of the band 102 of the base 22 to act a fulcrum against which the plastic sheet is forced or urged in use. Bending or flexure of the plastic over the edge or'rim of the band 102 is conducive to early mechanical failure of the assembly. In addition, positioning of the plastic sheet 166 outside of the base 22 facilitates obtaining a smoother physical arrangement of the plastic sheet and contributes to the overall attractiveness of the structure.

While positioning of the plastic sheet outwardly of the supporting cardboard base is a preferred arrangement, it has been found practical to fasten the plastic inwardly of the base wall, particularly in view of the recent development of more pliable plastic sheet materials. Currently available plastic compositions are highly resistant to folding fracture and commercially useful bin structures may, in the practice of the present invention, be fabricated U with the plastic walls positioned either inwardly or outwardly of the supporting base.

While a unitary section of plastic sheet may be attached, as described, without any modification or deformation, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the plastic sheet 110 is heat treated, molded, or otherwise deformed or formed to provide permanent corners 108a and 10812 or bend structures.

In the display bin illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 8, the cross-sectional contour of the upper portion of the base 22, as defined by a horizontal plane passing through the generally U shaped band 102 and the rear wall 30, is trapezoidal (FIGURE 4), the front wall 42 of the bin being narrower than the rear wall 60. As evident in FIGURE 1 and as best seen in FIGURE 6, the panels 50 and 56 which form the side walls 46a and 46b of the base 22 extend inwardly whereby their upper horizontally extending edges 112a and 11211 and 114a and 1141) provide a support for the floor or platform 26 of the display bin. The platform 26, as seen in FIGURE 4 has a trapezoidal peripheral contour corresponding to the cross-sectional outline defined by the U-shaped band 192 and the rear wall 60 of the bin.

The platform or floor 26 as illustrated in FIGURE 8B, is provided with tabs, flaps, or flanges 120a, 120b, 122, and 124 at the sides, front, and rear and separated from the main body 128 of the platform by score lines 130, 13011, 132 and 134. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 1 the rear flap or tab 124 is fastened to the rear wall of the bin by gluing or the like with the free edge 138 of the tab pointing downwardly. The remaining flaps 120a, 12Gb and 122 are folded upwardly and lie against corresponding band sections 80a, 3%]: and 74. In this arrangement the rear score line 134 serves as a hinge element along which the floor 26 is pivotal upwardly to the substantially vertical position preparatory to collapsing and folding of the display bin for shipment or storage.

In order to collapse the display bin it is necessary only to swing the platform 26 to a vertical position against the rear wall 36 and then to press the side walls 46a and 46b inwardly so that they collapse accordion-wise as the front wall approaches the rear wall. While such a collapsed configuration may be completely suitable for shipment or for storage in most cases, it is also possible to fold the collapsed structure forwardly over itself along a line defined by laterally extending cut outs or slots 84:: and 84b and an in-line score line or fold line 149 extending across the upper portion of the front wall 42. In order to-facilitate still further the fold-over of the collapsed display bin, the rear wall 69 of the bin is provided with an elongated cut out or slot 142 extending horizontally along a midportion of the rear wall 60 and flanked by laterally extending in-line fold lines or score lines 144 and 146 extending from the opposed lateral edges of the cut out to the corresponding lateral limits of the rear wall, all as clearly illustrated in FIGURE 8C. FIGURE 7 illustrates the bin of FIGURE 1 in a collapsed and folded over condition.

To effectuate collapse of the display bin of FIGURE 1 and to bring the front wall into substantial abutment against the rear wall, it is necessary that a specific dimensional relationship between the widths of the front wall 42, the rear wall 60, and the widths of the side Wall panels 50 and 56 be satisfied. The solution of this problem comprises an important feature of the invention. In accordance with the practice of the present invention, the walls of the base are formed so that the Width of the rearward panel 56a or 5612 of the side walls 46a and 46b exceeds the width of the forward side wall panel 50a or 5% by an amount which is equal to one-half the difference in the width of the front wall 42 and the rear wall 60. Application of this principle obviates any need for experimentation and ensures that in all cases a completely operable device will be achieved. While some deviation from the calculated value is permissible, reasonably close conformance to the rule set forth is recommended.

The present invention has been described in detail and the controlling principles of the invention have been set forth in the foregoing detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, the principles set forth hereinabove may be adopted to provide other structural forms useful as collapsible display bins, and a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGURES 9 through 16 is described below. The second embodiment of the invention as seen in the perspective view, FIGURE 9, comprises a collapsible bin 2%, which, as in the case of the first embodiment includes an opaque base 210 of corrugated board or the like, a platform 212 supported on the base, and upwardly extending receptacle-defining walls consisting of a rear wall 216 of corrugated board and a front wall wall 220 and side walls 222 and 224, the front and side walls being formed of a single sheet 226 of self-supporting flexible, transparent plastic. The plastic walls 222 and 224 are fastened at their lower edges to the upper edge portion of the base 210, on the outside wall surfaces of the base, as previously described, by means of staples 230, and the rearwardly extending free vertical edges of the side walls 222 and 224 are fastened respectively to cooperating elongated flaps or flanges 234 and 234a integrally formed with the rear wall 216 and hingedly connected thereto to extend substantially transversely of the rear wall. Again, any preferred fastening means such as gluing, stitching or staples may be used, and in the particular example illustrated staples constitute the fastening means.

The base 210 of the display bin, while having some features in common with the base of the first embodiment, has several important distinguishing features. Referring now to FIGURES 9, 14, and 16C, the base 213 is seen as including eight panels comprising a front wall 240, multiple panelled side walls 244a and 244b, and a rear wall 248, the latter being conveniently integral with the rear wall 216 of the upper or receptacle portion of the display bin 2%. Each of the side walls 244a and 244 b includes laterally offset parallel forward panels 254a and 25412 and rear panels 256a and 256b, the front and rear side panels being connected to each other by a transversely extending web or panel 260a and 2643b. As clearly shown in FIGURES 9 and 14, both the forward 254 and the rear 256 panels define planes which are perpendicular to the planes defined by the front wall 240 and the rear wall 248. The forward or front side panels 254a and 25412 are hingedly joined at their forward vertical edges to the corresponding lateral edges of the front panel 240 along fold lines or scores 266a and 26%. At the rearward edges of the forward side panels 254a and 25411, fold lines 270a and 17011 separate the panels from the integrally joined transversely extending webs or panels 260a and 26Gb. A score line 274a and 2741) marks the other lateral limit of the transverse web 26% and 26% and joins the web to the rear panel 256a and 25612 of the side walls 244a and 244b, The score lines are clearly indicated in FIGURE 16C and the final set up structure is shown in FIGURE 9. Also, as clearly illustrated in FIGURE 16C, the front wall, rear wall, and side walls of the base 210 of the display bin 2% may conveniently be stamped from a single, integral sheet. Alternatively, the rear wall may be a separate sheet, if preferred. 2

Referring now to FIGURE 16C, slots or cut outs 289a and 28% and communicating arcuate slots 282a and 2321) provide wings or cars 284a and 2841;, and free upper edges for panels 254 and 260 to effectuate the structural arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 9. At the same time the upper portion of the base is left unaffected to provide, in this case, a generally rectangular frame consisting of front band 290 and side bands 294a and 2%]; integrally connected thereto at score lines 293a and 293b,

and rear wall 216. A floor or platform 212 having a peripheral contour corresponding to the contour of the cross-sectional configuration of the upper portion of the base 210 is attached to the inside surface of the rear wall 216 of the bin by means of a rear flange 304 separated from the principal portion 302 of the floor 212 by a score line 308 and a cut out or a slot 312. The positioning of the floor is such that in use of the bin the floor rests upon and is supported by the top edges of the panels 254 and 260 which extend inwardly of the floor and therebelow. With the floor in article-supporting position, side flaps, cuffs, or tabs 314a and 314b and front flap 316 connected to the generally rectangular floor 302 at corresponding fold lines 320:: and 329k and 322 extendupwardly of the floor and abut, laterally, the framing members 294a, 29% and 290.

Referring now to the upper portion of the display bin, there is again provided a single sheet 226 of transparent, self-supporting, flexible plastic which is fastened at its lower edge to the upper end of the base to form the front 220 and side walls 222 and 224 of the article retaining enclosure. As previously described with respect to the other preferred embodiment of the display bin, the plastic sheet may take natural bends at the forward corners or, alternatively the sheet may be preshaped to provide bend lines 330a and 33%.

The display bin is shown in FIGURE 9 set up for use. In order to collapse the bin it is necessary only to pivot the platform 212 to an upwardly extending position and then to push the side walls 244a and 24412 inwardly to collapse the bin accordian-wise and bring the front wall 24%) adjacent the rear wall 216 to provide a flattened structure as shown schematically in FIGURE A substantially flat final structure of the collapsible bin, in its folded form, is obtained if the bin is fabricated so that the forward and the rearward laterally displaced side Walls are of substantially the same width. v

For the purpose of illustrative disclosure, and not by way of limitation, the collapsible bins of the invention have been described with reference to preferred geometric configurations. It is obvious, however, that the inventive concepts and the principles of the invention are applicable as well to structures having other overall shapes, and, with the present disclosure before them, those skilled in the art will be able to select other preferred forms and to adapt the principles of this invention to these forms, without the exercise of the inventive faculties. In each case, whatever the particular configuration, the article retaining walls of the bin will be formed of the combination of a single sheet of plastic with a section of corrugated board or the like. The plastic sheet Will be attached outwardly of the base structure of the bin. In all variations of the present invention it will be possible to fold or collapse the bin accordian-wise along vertical fold lines and bring opposed portions of walls of the bin to approach each other as the bin is flattened.

While disclosures of preferred embodiments of the display bin and of preferred methods of assembling and fabricating the bin of the invention have been provided, it will be apparent that numerous modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from underlying principles of the invention. It is, therefore, desired by the following claims to include within the scope of the invention all such variations and modifications by which substantially the results of this invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

What is claimed is:

1. In a collapsible display bin the combination with a base having front, rear and side walls and an articlesupporting platform surmounting said base and resting thereon, of article-retaining walls extending upwardly of said base and connected thereto, 7

said article-retaining walls comprising a section of 8 transparent, flexible, self-supporting plastic sheet material and a section of opaque wall-forming material, said plastic sheet material having a circumambient lower edge fastened to said base at an upper edge portion thereof, and joinder means attaching opposed vertical edge portions of said plastic sheet material to corresponding lateral edge portions of said section of opaque wall-forming material, said base and said walls extending upwardly thereof,

including said plastic sheet material, being collapsible inwardly along vertical fold lines whereby said front and rear walls of said base may be moved toward each other to provide a space-saving structure to facilitate stacking, storage, and shipment of said stand.

2. An article display bin collapsible along vertical fold lines and including a base comprising hingedly connected wall panels, an article-supporting pivotal platform surmounting said base and resting thereon, and articleretaining walls extending upwardly of said base and connected thereto,

said article-retaining walls comprising:

a unitary front and side wall section of transparent, flexible, self-supporting plastic sheet, and a rear wall section of opaque wall-forming material joined thereto,

said plastic sheet having a lower edge portion connected to a corresponding upper edge portion of said base and abuting a facing surface thereof and fastened thereto,

opposed vertical side edge portions of said plastic sheet being hingedly connected to corresponding vertically extending side edges of said rear wall section,

said rear wall section being joined at a lower edge portion thereof to a corresponding upper edge portion of said base,

said platform *bein-g pivotal to an upwardly extending position and said base and said walls being collapsible inwardly accordion-wise along vertical fold lines to provide a flattened, space-saving structure to facilitate storage and shipment of said display bin.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 2 andfurther comprising hinge means pivotally connecting said platform to said rear Wall section, said hinge means consisting of a flange integral with said platform and joined thereto along a fold line adjacent a rear edge portion of said platform, and fastening means attaching said flange to said rear wall section of opaque material,

whereby said platform is selectively pivotal from a horizontal article-supporting position in use to a substantially vertical. display-bin-storage and shipping position upon the inward collapsing of said dis play bin along said vertical fold lines.

4. The display bin of claim 2 wherein said base supporting said platform comprises spaced, parallel front and rear walls and a pair of opposed symmetrical side walls each hingedly joined to and connecting respective separate side edges of said front and rear walls,

said rear wall being a greater width than said front wall and positioned laterally symmetrically with respect thereto, whereby outer side portions of said rear wall extend laterally beyond said front wall on either side thereof,

each said side wall comprising multiple panels including a first panel hinged to a side edge of said front wall and extending rearwardly and substantially transversely thereof, and

a second panel integrally joined at a vertical fold line to said first panel and extending rearwardly and outwardly thereof, whereby in use of said bin said first and second panels extend beneath said platform,

means hingedly connecting a rear edge of each said second panel to a different corresponding side edge of said rear wall;

said platform being disposed to extend horizontally during normal use of said display stand and to rest upon and be supported by upper edges of said side walls of said base,

and being selectively pivotal to a vertical position upon horizontal collapse of said display stand accordion-wise along said vertical fold lines, said side Walls folding at inwardly moving score lines defined by junctures of said first and said second panels of said side walls to permit said front wall to approach said rear wall and assume a position parallel to and adjacent said rear wall but spaced therefrom by inwardly extending and overlying panels of said walls, to provide a substantially flat collapsed display bin for stacking, shipping and storage.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein said platform is generally trapezoidal in peripheral contour.

6. The structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said base supporting said platform comprises a front wall, opposed side walls integrally joined thereto, and a rear wall connected to opposed said side walls and extending thereabove,

each said side walls comprising a plurality of sections defined by vertical scores whereby said front wall may be moved toward said rear wall as said side walls fold accordion-wise to collapse said base and to provide a flattened structure,

each said side walls including laterally off-set parallelly extending forward and rearward panels and an interconnecting transversely disposed web extending therebetween;

a band, generally U-shaped in horizontal cross-section, said band surmounting said front and said side walls and integrally formed with said front wall and with said rearward panels of said opposed side Walls; and

attachment means fastening said sheet plastic to said band to support sheet plastic to extend upwardly of said base.

7. The structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein said platform comprises a combined article-supporting and base wall bracing panel hingedly connected to an inner surface of the rear wall of said base, whereby swinging movement of said floor to a substantially horizontal position causes said floor to seat and be supported upon upper edges of each said web and each said forward panel of said side walls with forward and side peripheral portions of said platform abuting corresponding inner surfaces of said U-shaped band to stress thereagainst and to distend and hold said front wall and said rearward panels of said side walls in place.

8. The structure of claim 6 wherein said platform is of a rectangular peripheral contour and said front wall is perpendicular to said side walls of said base.

9. The structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein each said first panel of said base connected to said side edge of said front wall of said base extends rearwardly and inwardly of lateral edges of said front wall.

10. The structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein said rear wall of said base is wider than said front wall and wherein said second panel of each said side wall of said base is of a width greater than the width of said first panel and exceeds the width of said first panel by an amount corresponding to half the difference in the width of said front and said rear walls.

11. The bin of claim 2 wherein said base comprises a vertical rear wall, a pair of vertical side walls, and a vertical front wall, said front wall being of a width less than the width of said rear wall,

said side walls each having a horizontal slit paralleling a floor on which said base rests in use, each said slit extending substantially across the full width of said side wall to divide each said side wall into an upper horizontally disposed band and a multiplepanel principal side wall therebelow,

a vertical fold line dividing each said principal side walls into two hinged panels,

portions of said hinged side panels extending inwardly from opposed lateral limits of said base to underlie said article-supporting platform to provide support for said platform during use of said bin, and

said panels being foldable inwardly upon themselves along said vertical fold lines whereby said front and rear walls may be brought toward each other to collapse said bin for stacking, storage and shipping.

12. The bin of claim 2 wherein said base comprises a vertical rear wall, a pair of vertical side walls, and a vertical front wall, said front wall being of a width less than the width of said rear wall,

said side walls each having a horizontal slit paralleling a floor on which said base rests in use, each said slit extending substantially across the full width of said side wall to divide each said side wall into an upper horizontally disposed band and a multiple-panel principal side wall therebelow,

a plurality of vertical fold lines dividing each said principal side walls into multiple hingedly joined panels,

portions of said hinged side panels extending inwardly from opposed lateral limits of said base to underlie said article-supporting platform to provide support for said platform during use of said bin, and

said panels being foldable inwardly upon themselves along said vertical fold lines whereby said front and rear walls may be brought toward each other to collapse said bin for stacking, storage and shipping.

13. The structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plastic sheet is attached outwardly of said base in contiguous abutment against an upper edge portion thereof to minimize fracture of said plastic sheet at said upper edge portion of said base in response to lateral pressure of articles stored in said bin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LOUIS G. MANOENE, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,330,406 July 11, 1967 Ronald H. Taub It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, lines 17 and 18, after "unitary" insert container column 6, line 54, for "17Gb" read 27Gb Signed and sealed this 18th day of June 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. IN A COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY BIN THE COMBINATION WITH A BASE HAVING FRONT, REAR AND SIDE WALLS AND AN ARTICLESUPPORTING PLATFORM SURMOUNTING SAID BASE AND RESTING THEREON, OF ARTICLE-RETAINING WALLS EXTENDING UPWARDLY OF SAID BASE AND CONNECTED THERETO, SAID ARTICLE-RETAINING WALLS COMPRISING A SECTION OF TRANSPARENT, FLEXIBLE, SELF-SUPPORTING PLASTIC SHEET MATERIAL AND A SECTION OF OPAQUE WALL-FORMING MATERIAL, SAID PLASTIC SHEET MATERIAL HAVING A CIRCUMAMBIENT LOWER EDGE FASTENED TO SAID BASE AT AN UPPER EDGE PORTION THEREOF, AND JOINDER MEANS ATTACHING OPPOSED VERTICAL EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID PLASTIC SHEET MATERIAL TO CORRESPONDING LATERAL EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID SECTION OF OPAQUE WALL-FORMING MATERIAL, SAID BASE AND SAID WALLS EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREOF, INCLUDING SAID PLASTIC SHEET MATERIAL, BEING COLLAPSIBLE INWARDLY ALONG VERTICAL FOLD LINES WHEREBY SAID FRONT AND REAR WALLS OF SAID BASE MAY BE MOVED TOWARD EACH OTHER TO PROVIDE A SPACE-SAVING STRUCTURE TO FACILITATE STACKING, STORAGE, AND SHIPMENT OF SAID STAND. 